A FYLDE Euro-MP has warned that the government's handling of EU vehicle recycling laws could lead to dozens of unwanted cars being dumped on streets.

Chris Davies MEP says Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) ministers have made a "dog's breakfast" of the EU's End-of-Life Vehicles Directive set to be implemented across Europe by 2007.

The directive aims to reduce Europe's eight million tonnes of annual car waste by urging vehicle dismantling companies to recycle components and remove pollutants, such as oil and brake fluid, before crushing.

But Mr Davies warns new DTI legislation, requiring all UK dismantlers to register with the Environment Agency by November, may deter many smaller firms from operating.

He also claims that a drastic decrease the number of local dismantling and longer journeys to authorised sites could lead to more unwanted cars being dumped on the streets.

Liberal Democrat environment spokesman, Mr Davies said: "The handling of car recycling legislation may lead to the closure of scores of small businesses and an increase in the number of abandoned cars on the streets.

"The North West has around 500 of the estimated 3,500 vehicle dismantlers in England but this number could be cut to just 20 or less in the region.

"The number of abandoned cars in the Blackpool Borough Council area has risen

by over 150 per cent in the past few years.

"But the situation could worsen even more dramatically as a new vehicle recycling law is put into practice.

"Many of the problems likely to occur stem from the Treasury's insistence that final owners of vehicles should pay all costs, even though they are usually the people least able to afford to do so.

"Stripping a car of the identification plates or reporting it as stolen, will allow the car owner to evade the responsibility of disposal.

"The temptation to avoid payment and dump the cars will be huge."

Mr Davies is now demanding the DTI rethink their refusal to back a deposit scheme for those buying new cars to cover the costs of eventual recycling as introduced in many Scandinavian countries.

Lytham-born Mr Davies said: "If the Government had followed the approach of other countries in Europe all would be well.

"But instead it has made a complete dog's breakfast of the whole business."